The World’s Greatest Martial Arts Instructor - Chapter 309

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 309. Shall I Destroy It?

 

 

The place where Ha Mu-baek had fought a fierce battle with Hyeon-hwang.

This place was still in a devastated state.

It was filled with withered and twisted dead trees, and destroyed ground and rocks spread widely.

“Sucking away life force… Tsk.”

Ha Mu-baek clicked his tongue.

Though he had dealt with it calmly.

It truly deserved to be called demonic martial arts, no, demonic power.

The Abyss.

And the Fragment of the Primordial.

No, the Primordial.

What this was.

Keeping the question in his heart, Ha Mu-baek moved his body.

Using the Infinite Bright Wheel Eye while retracing the direction where Hyeon-hwang had appeared at that time.

The cliff where he first encountered Hyeon-hwang.

There he was able to discover a dark cave.

It was a dark cave that seemed to have been made by someone for cultivation.

It was probably made by a high monk of Shaolin Temple.

On Songshan Mountain where Shaolin was located and Wudang Mountain where Wudang was located, there were such dark caves and hermitages everywhere.

When he reached the end of the dark cave like that.

There was a book.

As he had heard from Hyeon-gil.

The title “Thousand-Hand Sarira Bodhi Sutra” was the first thing that caught his eye.

He picked it up and checked the contents.

It was indeed a Buddhist sutra.

Among Shaolin’s martial arts, there were some with names like Buddhist sutras.

Since Hyeon-gil had no reason to lie to Ha Mu-baek, he believed it.

But he read it for the purpose of confirming from where within it that fellow called the Abyss had emerged.

Reading it once, it was just an ordinary Buddhist sutra with nothing special.

He read it again.

With the Infinite Bright Wheel Eye, he could clearly see the same energy he had felt in the Sutra Repository here as well.

Much more intensely.

Then this must be correct.

‘What could it be?’

The Void Vast Heart Method had no energy in the secret manual itself.

Only after Dan Mok Un-rae learned it, and only after Ha Mu-baek read the entire secret manual and understood its contents, did he feel the energy.

But this one had energy contained within the secret manual itself.

As if someone was meant to find and absorb it.

The nature of the energy this possessed was definitely of the same type as the Void Vast Heart Method and the Heavenly Demon Divine Technique.

The more information he gained, the more questions arose instead.

Two complete readings.

Within that, he felt a faint energy.

It wasn’t hidden in the content.

The characters.

It seemed to be hidden in them themselves.

So that the more one read, the more one could feel the energy.

If one possessed similar energy, one could feel that energy much more easily.

Just like when Ha Mu-baek first discovered traces of the energy.

Probably Hyeon-hwang had also noticed the energy of this Buddhist sutra in that way.

After feeling the energy and reading once more.

The residual energy that Hyeon-hwang hadn’t been able to fully absorb tried to seep into Ha Mu-baek’s body.

Ha Mu-baek accepted it for now.

The energy that entered his body like that stealthily approached Ha Mu-baek’s dantian.

Ha Mu-baek quietly observed that energy.

Recalling the energy that had settled in Gongya Hwi-yeon’s body, he carefully examined the one that had entered his own body.

Wondering if it would move like that.

The energy that attached to Ha Mu-baek’s dantian initially tried to move like the energy that had invaded Gongya Hwi-yeon’s body.

Wooong.

His dantian trembled briefly.

Then it absorbed that energy.

The energy with demonic arts characteristics was absorbed into Ha Mu-baek’s internal energy all too naturally.

It was frustrating.

To think it would be absorbed so easily.

He had hoped it would show some different movement so he could obtain some clue.

Still, wondering if there had been any change in his internal energy, Ha Mu-baek sat cross-legged and began energy circulation.

There wasn’t a big change.

But it wasn’t that there was no change at all.

Though minimal.

Ha Mu-baek’s internal energy had also come to possess the nature of void.

After absorbing it, he seemed to understand.

That it was energy of the same nature as the Void Vast Heart Method.

The characteristic it possessed.

Could be defined exactly as the first two characters written at the beginning of the name.

Void.

That was exactly it.

‘Then the Demonic Cult’s Heavenly Demon Divine Technique also has the characteristic of void, no, it too is void.’

When he first felt it, he thought it was a trace similar to demonic arts.

It wasn’t.

In the end, it was energy that shared the same root called void.

This was a part where he could guess why the Demonic Cult had so desperately sought the Dan Mok Family’s secret manual.

What the Heavenly Demon Divine Technique lacked must be in the Void Vast Heart Method.

In addition to that, the characteristic finally added to Hyeon-hwang’s martial arts was precisely this void.

“This wouldn’t have been the only thing.”

Ha Mu-baek’s gaze turned outside the dark cave.

Shaolin Temple that would be there.

The Sutra Repository.

The energy Hyeon-hwang had initially possessed was definitely different from this.

He must have obtained that from the Sutra Repository as well.

Ha Mu-baek rose to his feet.

Now it was time to examine the Sutra Repository.

He flew out of the dark cave and moved toward Sosil Peak.

 

When he arrived in front of Shaolin Temple’s mountain gate, unlike before, there was no obstruction whatsoever.

It seemed orders had been given from above in advance.

Ha Mu-baek was able to reach the front of the Sutra Repository without any interference.

“You have arrived. Benefactor Ha. Amitabha.”

Hyeon-gil was waiting.

Beside him was the expressionless Hyeon Chuk.

His expression showed he was suppressing his inner dissatisfaction.

Though he had given permission since there was no way to stop it, as the head of the Sutra Repository, he was displeased with this situation.

Such dissatisfaction.

“I’m going in.”

A brief statement.

Ha Mu-baek headed straight into the Sutra Repository without hesitation.

The Thirty-Six Vajra Arhats guarding the Sutra Repository flinched.

They instinctively tried to block him, then immediately recalled Hyeon Chuk’s words that Ha Mu-baek’s entry had been permitted.

Ha Mu-baek glanced at those Vajra Arhats and immediately disappeared into the Sutra Repository.

There was no hesitation in his steps.

While operating his Infinite Bright Wheel Eye, he scanned each bookshelf in the Sutra Repository one by one.

The scale of the Sutra Repository exceeded his imagination.

The time Ha Mu-baek had secured was one hour.

‘This might be tight.’

He had confidently said it would be enough.

But it seemed he would need to hurry.

Ha Mu-baek’s steps quickened.

He focused his Ki Sense on the Sutra Repository and rapidly scanned the bookshelves while operating his Infinite Bright Wheel Eye to its ultimate achievement.

‘One there.’

He passed by it for now.

‘There too.’

He passed by again.

The first floor was finished like this.

Then he went up to the upper floor.

‘Hmm. Here too.’

He passed by again.

He continued climbing.

‘There’s one there too.’

He passed by one more.

Now only one floor remained.

The stairs leading to the top floor were firmly locked with a massive padlock.

“Hm? What’s this place?”

Ha Mu-baek asked Hyeon Chuk who was following him.

“It’s a Forbidden Area.”

Hyeon Chuk answered with a displeased expression.

Hyeon-gil might use respectful language with this damned bastard.

But Hyeon Chuk didn’t want to.

From Hyeon Chuk’s perspective, Ha Mu-baek felt like an invader, a conqueror.

Daring to target this Shaolin.

As if Hyeon Chuk’s tone didn’t matter at all, Ha Mu-baek spoke again.

“I clearly said the Sutra Repository. Isn’t that place part of the Sutra Repository?”

“It is the Sutra Repository. However, it’s a forbidden area that even within Shaolin, not just anyone can enter. Even Senior Brother Hyeon-hwang has never entered that place. Scholar Monks cannot enter there.”

“This is different from our agreement? You said you’d let me examine everything, didn’t you?”

“There isn’t a single Secret Manual you can see in that place. You promised you wouldn’t read any martial arts Secret Manuals, didn’t you?”

Hyeon Chuk fought back without backing down.

“Are there only martial arts Secret Manuals in that place? Not a single Buddhist sutra?”

Ha Mu-baek asked again.

At that question, Hyeon Chuk’s face scrunched up deeply.

Of course there weren’t only martial arts Secret Manuals.

Shaolin Temple was a temple.

A temple that worshipped Buddha.

Among the Buddhist sutras, precious scriptures like priceless treasures were stored on the top floor of the Sutra Repository.

Many woodblock editions also existed.

Ha Mu-baek looked at Hyeon Chuk’s deeply frowning face and chuckled.

“There are, right?”

“….”

Hyeon Chuk couldn’t answer.

“Open it.”

Ha Mu-baek said briefly.

However, Hyeon Chuk still hesitated.

“Should I break it?”

Only at Ha Mu-baek’s following question did he reluctantly move.

He took out a key from his chest, inserted it into the padlock, and turned it.

It wasn’t simply opened with just a key.

In the process, Hyeon Chuk had to operate his Internal Energy and inject it into the key and padlock.

It was a device made so it wouldn’t open otherwise.

As such, destroying it wouldn’t be an easy task either.

But if it were Ha Mu-baek, it somehow seemed like he could do it easily.

So Hyeon Chuk ultimately opened the door.

Ha Mu-baek ascended to the top floor.

His gaze never once turned toward where the martial arts Secret Manuals were preciously stored.

The place he was quietly looking at was the bookshelf where woodblock editions were placed.

Prajnaparamita Tripitaka.

Though it was a Buddhist sutra, its value was a precious scripture no less than the martial arts Secret Manuals stored here.

Ha Mu-baek approached that place.

“St-stop. That’s….”

Hyeon Chuk’s complexion turned pale.

“I have no intention of taking it or damaging it. Calm down. It’s not a martial arts Secret Manual, it’s a Buddhist sutra.”

Ha Mu-baek’s words were correct.

Though it was called the Prajnaparamita Tripitaka.

Its content was ultimately about Prajnaparamita.

Other than being Shaolin’s treasure, there was no justification to prevent Ha Mu-baek from seeing it.

But Ha Mu-baek spoke first.

He wouldn’t take it, and he wouldn’t damage it.

Words that cut off any justification for blocking him.

Ha Mu-baek pulled out one of the many Tripitaka woodblocks and quietly looked down at it.

To Hyeon Chuk’s eyes, it simply looked like he was viewing the Tripitaka woodblock.

But Ha Mu-baek was reading its contents.

Not the content, but to properly awaken the Qi Energy contained in the characters.

The Qi Energy he awakened by reading it that way.

‘This is… that of the Muscle-Tendon Changing and Marrow Cleansing Scripture.’

The Abyss that Hyeon-gil had encountered when learning the Muscle-Tendon Changing and Marrow Cleansing Scripture.

The Qi Energy he had obtained there.

That was it.

Radiance.

Hyeon-gil had said that the Abyss was Radiance.

It was the same energy that had been dwelling within the Emperor Sword Form of Namgung Sega.

Ha Mu-baek absorbed it calmly.

“Let’s go.”

Ha Mu-baek said as he placed the sutra back in its position and turned around.

Hyeon Chuk, who had been watching with an anxious face, let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly led Ha Mu-baek down to the lower floor.

The lock clicked shut firmly once again.

Fortunately, nothing happened contrary to his expectations.

Opening it obediently had been the right choice.

“Is it over now?”

Ha Mu-baek shook his head at Hyeon Chuk’s question.

“There’s still this hall left.”

“You said one hour would be enough. I didn’t know you planned to use every bit of it.”

Hyeon Chuk muttered as if displeased.

As if he wanted Ha Mu-baek to hear it.

However, Ha Mu-baek simply ignored that muttering.

Thus Ha Mu-baek visited the places he had scouted beforehand in order.

One place indeed had the energy of Radiance.

Since it was different energy from what Hyeon-hwang had learned, it seemed he hadn’t discovered it.

The next place he went.

It was also a sutra, but.

Only faint traces of energy remained.

It was neither Void nor Radiance.

Ha Mu-baek absorbed the faint traces. And examined them closely.

An energy that seemed familiar from somewhere.

Its identity was.

‘Blood Cult!’

Ha Mu-baek’s eyes widened.

Killing intent instantly exploded from his body.

“Hiik!”

Hyeon Chuk was startled by that sight.

He had been reading the sutra just fine, so why was he suddenly like this…

Since it was an unexpected situation, Hyeon Chuk let out an undignified scream and sat down on the ground.

Soon Ha Mu-baek’s killing intent subsided, and Hyeon Chuk stood up with his face bright red.

Ha Mu-baek was focused only on the sutra as if he had no interest.

“Ahem.”

Hyeon Chuk coughed awkwardly out of embarrassment.

But Ha Mu-baek didn’t move a muscle.

‘This is the energy of those Blood Cult bastards… Then those Blood Cult scum were also connected to the power of that bastard called Sim Yeon, the so-called primordial fragment?’

The Demon Cult was Void.

And the Blood Cult was a different power from that.

Examining its nature carefully.

‘Darkness?’

It was a power that brought darkness to mind.

The remaining amount was considerable.

Compared to what remained in the Thousand-Hand Sarira Bodhi Sutra in the dark cave, there was almost five times more.

Having so many remnants meant there had originally been much more energy contained within.

Even by simple arithmetic calculation, there would have been five times more energy than that in the Thousand-Hand Sarira Bodhi Sutra.

Ha Mu-baek moved his steps again.

It was the first floor.

There were two places here.

One of them.

Again, only traces remained.

The power Hyeon-hwang had discovered first was probably this.

This was what turned Hyeon-hwang, a Scholar Monk with promising future, into an enemy of Murim, a villain and demon lord.

Ha Mu-baek absorbed those traces and examined them carefully as well.

It had a different nature from both Void and darkness.

‘Chaos? Confusion?’

Such things came to mind.

The book was worn in various places from how much this sutra had been read.

The one who read it this much would be Hyeon-hwang.

That’s how he was able to meet that bastard Sim Yeon who was sleeping within.

Based on the scent of remaining energy here, it was about six times that of Void.

In the end, Hyeon-hwang’s greatest power was this chaotic force.

The power of darkness that fell slightly short of it.

And finally, a bit of Void was added.

‘What if the power contained in Void had been as great as the power contained in darkness?’

Such a question suddenly arose, but.

Even so, he would have been the one to win.

Ha Mu-baek headed to the last remaining place.

“Half an hour left.”

Hyeon Chuk, who was following behind, said.

It was urging him to leave this place quickly.

Ha Mu-baek’s steps quickened slightly.

He had to keep the promise of one hour.

He always kept his agreements.

That was Ha Mu-baek’s creed.

The place where the last sutra was located, which he reached that way.

The moment he opened the book and read it once.

‘Th-th-this is…’

Ha Mu-baek, who was greatly shocked, trembled all over.

His thoughts wouldn’t connect and he stood there blankly.

How much time had passed like that.

“It’s over now. Let’s go.”

At Hyeon Chuk’s words, Ha Mu-baek came out of the Sutra Repository with a blank face.

He couldn’t even remember how he came out.

He simply took a seat in a room of the Guest Reception Hall, following Hyeon-gil’s guidance.

Hyeon-gil, who was guiding Ha Mu-baek, kept tilting his head in confusion.

But Ha Mu-baek wasn’t in the right mind to pay attention to such behavior from Hyeon-gil.

‘H-how…’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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